Flower Care

For the longest vase life after your flowers are arranged, it is recommended that every three days, you re-cut the flower stems under water, rinse the lower portion of the stems to clean them, clean the vase, and add new floral preservative/food and water solution in the vase.  Never use scissors or shears when cutting flower stems.  The two blade cut of scissors and shears squeezes the stem and crushes the water-conducting vessels of the xylem.  If you don't have access to commercial flower food, here is a home remedy that works.

To one gallon of water add one 12 ounce can of any brand of a clear lemon-lime soft drink.  The sugar will provide food for the flowers and the citric acid will lower the pH of the water.  Additionally, add one tablespoon of chlorine based bleach to the one gallon solution.  This will serve as a biocide and help keep the water clean.

Emergency Care

You received the most wonderful bouquet of red roses for Valentine’s Day. The roses were perfect when you received them yesterday. But, this morning you notice that the blossom heads are starting to droop. Don’t panic. A few simple steps will correct this problem.

Step 1.
Act immediately. A drooping head is a sign that the rose is not getting enough water. If you correct this early, the rose will recover fully. If you wait too long, it may not recover.

Step 2.
Make sure that your roses have not been placed in direct sunlight, near a heat source or in a draft. These conditions will cause the rose to lose water through transpiration faster than it can be replaced through the stem.

Step 3.
Generally, a drooping head is caused by stem blockage. Stem blockage can be caused by an air bubble in the stem, bacteria or fungus in the vase water, or dissolved mineral solids in the vase water. The treatment for all types of stem blockage is the same.

Step 4.
Place your hands around the entire rose arrangement just above the top of the vase and lift the arrangement straight up and out of the vase. Holding the arrangement together, rinse the stems under running water then lay the arrangement on it’s side, (it will hold together)

Step 5.
Throw out the old vase water. Wash the vase with soap and water. Rinse very well with water then give a final rinse with a water and Clorox bleach solution.

Step 6.
Fill the vase with fresh warm water. If you live in an area with a high mineral content in your water, use distilled or deionized water. Never use "softened" water.

Step 7.
Mix and completely dissolve a commercial floral food in the vase water. Use the recommended amount. Never use more. If you don’t have any floral food on hand, just use water and add floral food at a later time.

Step 8.
Grasping the arrangement with both hands, squeeze the stems together slightly and place the arrangement back into the vase.

Step 9.
Fill your kitchen sink with warm water. Remove each rose from the vase one at a time. Holding the rose stem under water, cut one to two inches off of the bottom of the stem at an angle using a sharp knife.

Step 10.
Quickly insert each rose back into the arrangement from where it was removed. Make sure that the stem is inserted deeply into the water.